Kaxyek, (Elizabeth Bosely) is from the Dakl’awedi Eagle and Killer Whale Clan of Teslin Tlingit Council in Southern
Yukon. Her Tlingit name, Kaxyek, means Tree Sap Spirit & Animal Mother.
Her passion for art is inspired by her late mother Kaadeltin Fox (Mrs. Elizabeth Bosely), who was proficient in traditional moose-hide preparation and beadwork. Like her mother before her, Kaadeltin Fox bequeathed a love for the traditional arts to her children and grandchildren.
Precious childhood times of helping her mother scrape, smoke and prepare moose hides for sewing are memories Liz holds dear. She had the privilege of watching her mom create beautiful beadwork on slippers, jackets, vests, mittens, gloves, mukluks, and hats from her home-tanned hides. This exposure to her mother’s traditional art inspires Liz’s creativity.
Following her mother’s path, Liz cultivates her skill through beadwork, sewing and fine craftwork. She makes footwear, mittens, jewelry, and crafts using various bead weaving techniques, furs, and commercial and home-tanned hides.
Liz is a graduate of the Native Cultural Arts Instructor Certificate Program at Portage College in Lac La Biche, Alberta. The knowledge and skills gained from this program coupled with years of teaching experience were invaluable when she developed and coordinated the delivery of the Yukon First Nations Art Certificate Program-Yukon University in ten Yukon communities.
In 2015, Liz’s work was procured by the Yukon Permanent Art Collection. Her handcrafted mukluks, titled My Mother, My Inspiration, were selected by the Collection, and in 2019, her artwork was displayed in the Yukon Legislature.
A born and raised Yukoner, Liz loves spending time outdoors absorbing the beauty and serenity of Yukon’s wild spaces. For over a decade, Liz was passionate about marathon paddling and held the women’s tandem canoe record from 2009-2022 in the world’s
longest annual canoe and kayak race - the Yukon River Quest.